Figure 6.

(A and B) Nitrite production in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Results are means ± SEM of individual cultures from six different rats. In (A), treatment groups were control (C), LPS (L), dexamethasone (D), mifepristone (M), whereas progesterone (P) replaced dexamethasone in (B). Numbers beside drug abbreviations are concentrations in µg·mL⁻¹ (LPS) and µM (dexamethasone, progesterone or mifepristone). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, comparing LPS alone with controls or with LPS/steroid mixtures.